Process for spontaneouly transporting a fluid

Abstract

Synthetic fiber that are capable of spontaneously transporting water on their surface satisfy the equation(1-X cos theta a)<0,wherein theta a is the advancing contact angle of water measured on a flat film made from the same material as the fiber and having the same surface treatment, if any, X is a shape factor of the fiber cross-section that satisfies the following equation <IMAGE> wherein Pw is the wetted perimeter of the fiber and r is the radius of the circumscribed circle circumscribing the fiber cross-section and D is the minor axis dimension across the fiber cross-section, and wherein the uphill flux value of said fiber is from 2 to 60 cc/g/hr when measured from a reservoir of synthetic urine test fluid along a 20 cm long ramp to an absorbant on an attached platform at 10 cm height.

We claim: 
     
       1. A process for spontaneously transporting an aqueous fluid comprising contacting a synthetic fiber which is capable of spontaneously transporting water on the surface thereof wherein said fiber satisfies the equation   (1-X cos θ.sub.a)<0,     wherein   θ a  is the advancing contact angle of water measured on a flat film made from the same material as the fiber and having the same surface treatment,   X is a shape factor of the fiber cross-section that satisfies the following equation ##EQU20##  wherein P w  is the wetted perimeter of the fiber and r is the radius of the circumscribed circle circumscribing the fiber cross-section and D is the minor axis dimension across the fiber cross-section, with an aqueous fluid.     
     
     
       2. The process of claim 1 wherein said fiber has an uphill flux value of about 2 to about 60 cc/g/hr, wherein the uphill flux value of said fiber is from about 2 to about 60 cc/g/hr when measured from a reservoir of synthetic urine test fluid along a 20 cm long ramp to an absorbant on an attached platform at 10 cm height.   
     
     
       3. The process of claim 1 wherein said aqueous fluid is selected from the group consisting of water, urine, perspiration, blood and an aqueous ink. 
     
     
       4. The process of claim 1 wherein a part of said fiber is in contact with a source of said aqueous fluid and a different part of said fiber is in contact with a sink. 
     
     
       5. The process of claim 1 wherein said fiber has an uphill flux value of about 2 to about 60 cc/g/hr and an adhesion tension of at least 38 dynes/cm. 
     
     
       6. A process for spontaneously transporting an alcoholic fluid comprising contacting a synthetic fiber which is capable of spontaneously transporting water on the surface thereof wherein said fiber satisfies the equation   (1-X cos θ.sub.a)<0,     wherein   θ a  is the advancing contact angle of water measured on a flat film made from the same material as the fiber and having the same surface treatment,   X is a shape factor of the fiber cross-section that satisfies the following equation ##EQU21##  wherein P w  is the wetted perimeter of the fiber and r is the radius of the circumscribed circle circumscribing the fiber cross-section and D is the minor axis dimension across the fiber cross-section, with an alcoholic fluid.     
     
     
       7. The process of claim 6 wherein said fiber has an uphill flux value of about 2 to about 60 cc/g/hr, wherein the uphill flux value of said fiber is from about 2 to about 60 cc/g/hr when measured from a reservoir of synthetic urine test fluid along a 20 cm long ramp to an absorbant on an attached platform at 10 cm height.   
     
     
       8. The process of claim 6 wherein said alcoholic fluid comprises at least about 70% by weight of an alcohol which is selected from the group consisting of methanol, ethanol, n-propanol and iso-propanol.